Local News

Wethersfield Woman Pleads Guilty In $1.6 Million Food Stamp Fraud

Federal prosecutors say a Wethersfield woman has pleaded guilty in a $1.6 million dollar food stamp fraud scheme which operated for almost two and a half years at small Hartford grocery stores.

U.S. Attorney David Fein says 46-year-old Lillian Adames and her husband, Apolinar Collado were the actual owners of six small retail grocery stores where they exchanged cash for food stamps — a violation of the rules of the federal “Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program” administered by the Department of Agriculture.

On paper, the six stores were owned by other people, acting as fronts for Adames and Collidar.

Adames, who waived indictment and pleaded guilty, is scheduled to be sentenced in November. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, restitution, and a maximum fine of $3.3 million.